Chief Heart Officer Claude Silver (VaynerMedia/VaynerX) joins Michelle to unpack why the real “seismic shift” at work is bringing our humanity back. From emotional intelligence and psychological safety to trust, belonging, and authentic leadership, Claude lays out a practical roadmap leaders can use today—especially with Gen Z and Gen Alpha demanding purpose, flexibility, and voice. Claude shares her non-linear journey to becoming a Chief Heart Officer, the three-part structure of her book Be Yourself at Work (you → team → culture), and tangible moves to show up with heart—starting with knowing your non-negotiables and strengths. If you’re trying to attract and retain top talent, reduce burnout, and build a culture where people actually want to stay, this conversation is your playbook.

Chapters
00:01 — Welcome & You → Team → Culture Framework
02:49 — Gen Z & Gen Alpha at Work
05:06 — Why Old Playbooks Fail
05:57 — The Splinter Analogy
06:52 — Building Trust & Belonging
07:19 — Psychological Safety in Hybrid Work
10:36 — Autonomy, Flexibility & Hybrid
10:45 — Feedback Without Fear
12:01 — Emotional Optimism: The Success Recipe
14:40 — Self-Awareness as a Leader
32:01 — Closing Takeaways from Claude

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Season 4 of the Seismic Shift podcast is here—and it’s all about the seismic shifts in you. Host Michelle Johnston tees up a season packed with practical tips you can use right away to create more connection and drive better results at work and in life. Expect candid insights, actionable takeaways, and stories that challenge how you lead, communicate, and collaborate.

This season, she's joined by some incredible voices, including Marshall Goldsmith (co-author of her latest book, The Seismic Shift in You), Mita Mallick (author of The Devil Emails at Midnight), and Claude Silver, the first-ever Chief Heart Officer at Vayner Media, to name a few. From leadership habits to culture-building and human-centered performance, each conversation zeroes in on what actually moves the needle—so you can grow yourself and your team. Special thanks to Loyola University New Orleans for their generous support.

Season 4 begins with world-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith joining Michelle Johnston to discuss the groundbreaking leadership insights behind their co-authored book, The Seismic Shift in You. Broadcasting from their experience at Thinkers50 in London, they share the seven critical shifts every leader must embrace to stay relevant in a world reshaped by AI, remote work, and cultural transformation. With stories from Alan Mulally, Frances Hesselbein, and Gary Ridge, the conversation dives into practical ways to foster connection, reshape meetings, manage calendars, and elevate energy. Goldsmith also reveals how AI, including his own MarshallBot, is redefining coaching and thought leadership. This is not soft leadership. These are hard skills that generate hard results. You'll walk away inspired to lead differently—more connected, more human, and more effective.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Marshall Goldsmith
01:00 Birth of the Book at Thinkers50
02:30 Seismic Shifts Facing Leaders Today
04:00 Connection as a Leadership Imperative
05:20 Embracing AI: MarshallBot and the Future of Coaching
07:00 Michelle Learns Prompt Engineering from Marshall
10:00 Free Coaching: The Gift of MarshallBot
11:30 AI’s Role in Leadership Development
14:00 The Seven Seismic Shifts Overview
15:00 Transforming Meetings into Conversations
18:00 Reshaping Your Calendar to Reflect Priorities
21:00 Making Virtual Meetings More Human
23:00 How to End Meetings with Impact
25:00 Alan Mulally and the Power of Red-Yellow-Green
27:00 Gary Ridge and Creating Meaning at WD-40
29:30 Energy as a Leadership Asset
33:30 Final Thoughts from Marshall & Michelle

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/